East one of the most optimistic regions about Brexit

Confidence has surged among middle-market firms in central England and East Anglia at a faster rate than in any other part of the country over the last quarter, according to a survey.

Sentiment among businesses about leaving the European Union in the region rose from a negative level in the previous quarter, 94, to a positive reading of 120 in accountancy firm RSM’s Brexit monitor index – in which a reading above 100 is positive. The region’s optimism placed it only behind Scotland in the UK.

Mark Taylor, regional managing partner for RSM’s central and East Anglian region, said: “Sentiment across the region appears to have recovered somewhat, largely influenced I would suspect by the government’s more transparent approach in the lead-up to the transition deal they secured over a month ago. Despite that, businesses are still unhappy about the lack of certainty surrounding our future trading arrangements.”